NIA chargesheets four alleged Babbar Khalsa International operatives

In the chargesheet filed before a special NIA court (Chandigarh), all four accused persons have been charged under multiple sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the Explosive Substances Act, and other related provisions. File
| Photo Credit: The Hindu

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a chargesheet against four alleged Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) operatives, including one based in Pakistan and another in the United States, in connection with the 2024 Chandigarh grenade attack case.

Among those arraigned in the chargesheet are Pakistan-based “designated individual terrorist” Harwinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda, and U.S.-based Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passia. The agency has accused them of being associated with the banned terror outfit, BKI. The other two have been identified as Rohan Masih and Vishal Masih.

“The two terrorists were the primary handlers and conspirators behind the attack. They had provided logistical support, terror funds, weapons, and ammunition to India-based…operatives in Chandigarh for executing the grenade attack,” said the NIA.

The agency has alleged that the September 2024 attack was intended to target a retired officer of the Punjab police, who the assailants believed to be the occupant of the marked house.

“Investigations revealed that Rinda, along with Happy Passia, had orchestrated the conspiracy to strike terror among law enforcement officials and general public through the grenade attack, as part of the broader aim to promote BKI’s terrorist agenda. They had recruited local operatives, namely Rohan Masih and Vishal Masih, who were tasked with carrying out the attack under their direct instructions.

It is alleged that Rinda and Happy Passia directed the other accused, Rohan Masih and Vishal Masih, to conduct reconnaissance on the target twice before hurling the grenade.

In the chargesheet filed before a special NIA court (Chandigarh), all four accused persons have been charged under multiple sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the Explosive Substances Act, and other related provisions, for their roles in planning and supporting the attack.

In January, the NIA had carried out searches at various locations in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and the Union Territory of Chandigarh in the same case. The operation covered the premises of suspects linked to Happy Passia in the Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Bathinda and Ferozepur districts of Punjab, Lakhimpur Kheri district in Uttar Pradesh, Rudrapur district in Uttarakhand, and in Chandigarh.

The agency registered the case last year following a reference from the Union Home Ministry to investigate the hurling of a hand grenade at a house in Sector 10/D Chandigarh, on September 9, 2024, by accused Rohan Masih and Vishal Masih, who were later arrested.